The Dividends of Prohibition 177 
much to say against the ruinous quality of available 
liquor. Whatever the ill effects of such liquor may 
be, there was practically no testimony that it had 
tended to reduce productivity.” 
An important detail of the economic gains result- 
ing from prohibition is supplied in the testimony of 
Joseph E. Gilbert, builder of many of New York's 
tall structures, in a report of his address to the mem- 
bers of a building firm, published by the New York 
Times, January 20, 1929. Mr. Gilbert is quoted: 
“With the coming of prohibition, it was believed 
in many quarters that the throwing of so many 
saloon corners on the market would cause a sharp 
decline in values, which would also have a bad effect 
on other properties. Such, however, has not been 
the case. We found that saloons were not the only 
class of business desirous of obtaining corner loca- 
tions and paying well for them. Today the value of 
practically every corner formerly used for dispensing 
liquor has increased from two to four times.” 
No Economist Denies Gains 
So much for the physiological testimony as to the 
impairment produced by even moderate amounts of 
alcohol affecting the efficiency of workmen. As for 
the testimony of economists, Prohibition Commis- 
sioner Doran recently issued a statement that he had 
failed to find any economist who would gainsay that 
prohibition has been a vast help to welfare in the 
United States. I can verify this testimony. I was 
requested by the then President of the American